AUSTIN — State Representative Trent Ashby (R – Lufkin) issued the following statement regarding the updated Special Session Agenda:
“I want to thank Governor Abbott for his leadership in expanding the call of the Second Called Special Session to include legislation that addresses the growing concerns over high-volume groundwater pumping in East Texas. This action reflects the seriousness of the issue and the need for thoughtful, long-term solutions to protect our region’s water resources.
I am proud to serve as a Joint Author on Chairman Cody Harris’s House Bill 27 and to have filed House Bill 193, which collectively strengthen the role of local groundwater conservation districts, increase transparency in the permitting process, and ensure that the voices of rural Texans are heard. These bills represent an important step toward preserving the integrity of our aquifers and safeguarding water access for the families, farmers, and communities that depend on it.
I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to pass meaningful legislation that protects private property rights while also preserving East Texas’ water for future generations.”
Trent Ashby is in his seventh term as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He currently represents a six-county region that includes Angelina, Houston, Polk, San Augustine, Trinity, and Tyler Counties.